Spindle and bearing.



No. 632,989. Patented Sept. I2, i899. G. 0. DRAPEB.

SPINDLE AND BEARING.

(Appl canon filed Jan 28 1899 No Model.)

ll-Illll GEORGE O. DRAPER, OF IIOIEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEDRAPER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE ANI) PORTLAND, MAINE.

SPINDLE AND BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,989, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed January 28, 1899- Serial No. 7OS.66 8. (No model.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. DRAPER, of IIopedale, county oflVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inSpindles and Bearings, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters andligu res on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to spindles and their supporting-bearings for usein spinning-machines and the like; and'it has for its object theproduction of a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby anylateral vibration or error in the proper rotation of the spindle iscontrolled or counter-acted by centrifugal force acting through theintermediary of what is practically a yielding rolling bearing. By theconstruction referred to the vibration of the spindle when running athigh speed is reduced to a minimum and the spindle rotates withgreatly-decreased friction.

Figure lis a vertical sectional View of a spindle and bearing embodyingone form of my invention, the spindle itself and a portion of theremovable bolster being shown in elevation; and Fig. 2 is aptransversesectional view on the line .9c x, Fig. l, of the rotating raceway orball-supporting member of the rolling lateral bearing.

The spindle-support comprises a base A, Fig. l, having a hollowdepending shank A to extend through a hole in the usual spindlerail andexteriorly threaded at d' to receive a retaining-nut (not shown) to holdthe support firmly on the rail. A bolster B loosely enters the shank andprojects above it for some distance, the upper end of the bolster being.herein shown as recessed or bored at b to form a seat for a series ofantifriction-balls hX, which serve as a step or end-thrust bearing forthe tapering lower end s of the spindle S. The annular space between thelower end of the bolster and the interior of the support-shank A ispreferably iilled with suitable packing j). A depending sleeve c,rigidly secured to the spindle above the upper end of the bolster,extends downward outside of the latter and has formed upon or secured toits lower end a whirl NV for the driving-band BX. The bottom of thewhirl is herein shown as extended to form a cylindrical lian ge w, inwhich is secured a preferably hardened-steel ring w', having its innerface 102 upwardly flared to form a rotating raceway or traveling memberof the lateral rolling bearingfor the spindle. A collar h is forced ontoor otherwise secured to the bolster above the ring w, the lower face h2of said collar also daring upwardly and opposed to the ring-face rc2,said faces slightly converging, however, toward their peripheries, saidcollar forming the Iixed member of the lateral bearing. Between thefaces b2 and 102 a series of rolling members 10X are interposed,preferably hardened-steel balls, the rotation of the ring 21:2 with thespindle causing the balls to roll upon the fixed member b2 of thebearing. Vhen the spindle is ruiming, the rotation of the raceway actsby or through centrifugal force to cause the balls to liyoutward and upalong the inclined face 102 of the raceway, the balls being held inplace, however, by Ithe convergence of the faces 102122. I thus obtain averysensitive bearing for the spindle, which counteracts any lateralvibration or error in the rotation of the spindle, a

practically yielding rollin gbearing being thus provided, the yieldingfeature thereof being furnished and controlled by centrifugal force.

In Fig. l the dotted lines indicate the position of the balls wx whenthe spindle is at rest, the balls impinging against the bolster and theraceway, whereas the full lines indicate the position of the ballsl whenthe spindle is running, the centrifugal force constantly urging themoutward and up the inclined face fm2.

, The width of the annular space between the lower inner edge of theraceway and the bolster B is less than the diameter of the balls, asisthe distance between the peripheries of the fixed and movable membersb' w', so that the balls are held from displacement.

One or more holes, as 20, may be made in the lower part of the whirl forthe insertion of the balls wx when the parts are being assembled, anupturned guard-lip or flange a on the spindle-support A extending aroundthe depending whirl-fiange w and preventing any improper lateralmovement of the whirl.

A detent (shown as a piece of stout wire a2) is mounted in the support Ato extend over the top of the sleeve-whirl W and prevent it fromaccidental lifting.

IOO

It will be seen that the end-thrust or step bearing for the spindle andabout which it may tip slightly is located some distance above thesupplementary or lateral bearing, the former bearing sustaining theweight of the spindle and sleeve-Whirl.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement herein shown, for so far as I am aware it is broadly new tocounteract or prevent lateral spindle -vibration by or through theaction of centrifugal force.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. A vertically-rotating spindle, coperating fixed and rotatable bearingmembers arranged one above the other concentric with the spindle andhaving opposed outwardlyconverging conical faces, the rotatable memberbeing attached to the spindle, and a series of balls interposed betweensaid faces and controlled as to their position by centrifugal force, thesaid balls contacting loosely with the said opposed faces when thespindle is at rest.

2. A vertically-rotatin g spindle, an attached shell having an internalupwardly-'darin g ballraceway, aiiXed conical bearing opposed theretoabove it and converging outwardly thereto, and a series ofantifriction-balls interposed between said bearing and raceway andpositioned by centrifugal force, to govern lateral vibration of thespindle, the balls loosely contacting with said bearing and raceway whenthe spindle is at rest.

3. A spindle-support, a spindle, a bearing in said support to sustainthe spindle vertically, and an independent yielding rolling bearing forthe spindle comprising opposed outwardly-converging faces and a seriesof balls between them, to govern lateral vibration thereof, said rollingbearingbeing located belo w the vertical bearing, the said facescontacting loosely with the balls when the spindle is at rest.

4. A spindle-support, a spindle, a bearing in said support to sustainthe spindle vertiranged circularly around the spindle end and verticallysupporting it, and means to control lateral vibration of the spindle bycentrifugal force.

6. A spindle-support, a vertically-rotating spindle having astep-bearing on said support, and a lateral ball-bearing located belowthe step-bearing and including means to control the posit-ion of theballs by or through centifugal force.

7. A spindle-support, a vertically-rotating spindle mounted thereupon, asleeve-whirl attached to the spindle, a ball-raceway having anupwardly-Haring face carried by the whirl, a fixed bearing member, and aseries of balls interposed between said fixed member and the travelingraceway, the faces of said member and the raceway outwardly convergingand loosely contacting with the balls when the spindle is at rest.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE O. DRAPER.

IVitnesses:

E. D. BANcRoFT, A. I-I. CoUsINs.

